West Virginia’s defense already has a few names that feel like they belong in the 2027 conversation, and a few others who still need to prove they can be part of the long-term picture.
At the top of the list are Corey McIntyre Jr. and Darius Wiley. Wiley would have been a huge piece of this defense if he had not been hurt in the season opener, and when he gets back, the expectation is that he will matter in a major way. McIntyre Jr. has not been a star, but he has played solid football this year, and that kind of continuity matters when you are trying to keep experienced players in place.
That same idea shows up at linebacker, where Harper Holloman stands out as a player West Virginia should absolutely want back. He has been as good as advertised, and the note with him is not about whether he can play - it is about getting more help from the guys up front.
David Afogho also fits into that group as a quality contributor after coming over from Bowling Green. He made a huge play with the game-winning strip sack against TCU, but the bigger story is that he has flashed enough in key moments to look like a solid rotational piece for the next year plus.
The edge group has its own layers. Isaiah Patterson and Cam Torbor are the key returners there, with Patterson being the most productive of the bunch.
Torbor is more of a projection bet, but there is real belief in what he can become. Ben Cutter and Jason Hall Jr. are the kind of players who may never be stars, yet they give you dependable football and do things the right way.
Miles Khatri is worth watching closely after moving from nickel/sam to linebacker last week and making an impact. Cameron Dwyer is another name who could take a real step by next fall, even if that jump does not happen on the field this season.
In the secondary, Geimere Latimer is the headliner. He is the closest thing West Virginia has to an all-league player on that side of the ball, and he looks like a key 2027 piece.
Maliek Hawkins is the one to monitor next, especially after getting a few snaps in the TCU win. He has great speed, just like his brother Mike, and that kind of trait can be used in the blitz game by Zac Alley.
Corner is where the uncertainty really starts to show. Nick Taylor is the clear must-retain player there, and the description fits him perfectly: physical, hard-hitting, passionate, and the sort of defender who plays every snap like it could be his last.
Outside of Vincent Smith, a talented freshman the staff is high on but who has not seen the field yet, there are not many obvious answers. West Virginia is expected to work the portal hard at that spot.
Safety brings another important piece in Matt Sieg, who has had struggles but is still viewed as a future all-league player. The situation around him has not been easy, with a bad defense and no veteran on the roster playing well enough to lean on and learn from, but the long view on Sieg remains strong.
Andrew Powdrell is in the quality contributor tier, while Jacob Bradford and Kameron Reddic are two names to watch over the final four games. Bradford got his first extended look last week, and Reddic is starting to earn more time as well.
Here is how the tiers break down:
Must retain: Corey McIntyre Jr., Darius Wiley
Quality contributors: Nate Gabriel
Need to see more: K.J. Henson, Will LeBlanc, Emerson Joy, Taylor Brown
Developmental: Yendor Mack, Cam Mallory, Wilnerson Telemaque, Carter Kessler
Depth pieces: Jaylen Thomas, Brandon Caesar, Gabe Ryan
Must retain: Harper Holloman
Quality contributors: David Afogho
Need to see more: Jeremiah Johnson
Developmental: Tobi Haastrup, Noah Tishendorf
Depth pieces: N/A
Must retain: Isaiah Patterson, Cam Torbor
Quality contributors: Ben Cutter, Jason Hall Jr.
Need to see more: LB Ashton Woods, Miles Khatri
Developmental: Antoine Sharp Jr., Cameron Dwyer
Depth pieces: Destin Achi
Must retain: Geimere Latimer
Quality contributors: N/A
Need to see more: Maliek Hawkins
Developmental: Emory Snyder, Jayden Ballard
Depth pieces: N/A
Must retain: Nick Taylor
Quality contributors: N/A
Need to see more: Jaire Rawlison, Keyshawn Robinson
Developmental: ChaMarryus Bomar, Vincent Smith, Makhi Boone, Simaj Hill
Depth pieces: Da'Mun Allen, Rayshawn Reynolds Jr., Jayden Bell
Must retain: Matt Sieg
Quality contributors: Andrew Powdrell
Need to see more: Jacob Bradford, Kameron Reddic, Da'Mare Williams
Developmental: Rickey Giles
Depth pieces: Shane Cornali, Tim Roberson, Silas Steffan, Alex Adebayo
In Other News...
WVUs Offense Has Two Stars But One Big Stretch-Run Concern
West Virginias offense has leaned heavily on a pair of stars through the bye week, and the numbers help explain why the unit has looked so dangerous at times. Quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. has played at an elite level, while running back Cam Cook has been one of the most productive backs in the country, ranking third nationally in rushing yards. The rest of the offense has been a mixed bag by comparison, with the articles grades and snap counts showing a group that has delivered enough support to keep the Mountaineers moving, but not always with the same week-to-week consistency.
The stretch run will be about whether West Virginia can get more from the pieces around those two difference-makers. The bye week gives the staff a chance to reset, evaluate where the offense has been strong and where the weak spots have shown up, and then decide what changes might help as the season resumes. For a team with obvious firepower at quarterback and running back, the bigger question is whether the supporting cast can rise enough to keep the offense from becoming too dependent on Hawkins and Cook. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs November Gauntlet Will Decide Whether This Season Becomes More
West Virginias path to a bigger finish this season is about to get a lot clearer, and a lot harder. At 5-3, the Mountaineers have put themselves in position to make the final month matter, but the schedule ahead brings three ranked opponents into the mix and leaves little room for a slip if they want to turn a solid season into something more meaningful.
ESPNs FPI matchup predictor does not exactly make the road look inviting in the final four games, and the numbers reflect what the eye test already suggests about the challenges ahead. The good news for West Virginia is that the season is still sitting on a knifes edge, which means November can still push this group toward a strong finish. The bad news is that the margin for error shrinks quickly when the opposition gets this steep. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia May Have A Star QB It Can't Take For Granted
Mike Hawkins Jr. has been one of the biggest reasons West Virginias offense has looked dangerous this fall. The Mountaineers quarterback is drawing national attention for production that goes well beyond the box score, sitting ninth among quarterbacks in PFF grades while piling up efficiency marks that separate the truly productive passers from the merely busy ones.
Hawkins has also given West Virginia a rare blend of explosiveness and restraint, leading the nation in rushing touchdowns while ranking near the top in yards per completion and adjusted yards per pass attempt. The deeper concern for the Mountaineers is how much of that growth has come from a quarterback who is making difficult throws, creating chunk plays and limiting mistakes despite a completion rate shaped by aggressive downfield attempts and a few too many drops around him. [Read more 🡒]